Trailer coupling



K. E. CLAUSEN TRAILER COUPLING Feb. 8, 1966 Original Filed April 17,1962 IN VENTOR.

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United States Patent Ofiice 3,233,766 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 3,233,766TRAILER COUPLING Kenneth E. Clansen, Waukegan, IlL, assignor to()uthoard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, 11]., a corporation of DelawareContinuation of application Ser. No. 188,025, Apr. 17, 1962. Thisapplication Nov. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 409,186 4 Claims. (Cl. 2145il5) Thisapplication is a continuation of my previous application Serial No.188,025, filed April 17, 1962, now abandoned.

The invention relates generally to trailers, and particularly toarrangements for tilting the bed of a trailer when the trailer iscoupled to a towing vehicle. Still more particularly, the inventionrelates to boat and other type trailers including a bed or frame whichis pivotally supported by a pair of rearward wheels and which isnormally retained in a generally horizontal parking position, whenunattached to a towing vehicle, by a third supporting member, which caninclude a parking wheel, carried at the forward end of the bed.

The invention constitutes a further development of the subject matterdisclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 188,102,now Patent No. 3,152,881, entitled: Front Trailer Wheel Arrangementfiled on April 17, 1962, and contemplates a hitch bar carrying acoupling element which is vertically displaceable relative to the bedfor connection to a mating coupling component mounted on a towingvehicle, when the weight of the trailer is supported by the rear wheelsand the forward supporting member, thereby eliminating lifting of theweight of the trailer when coupling the trailer to a towing vehicle. Inthe preferred embodiment, the hitch bar is pivotally mounted to theframe or bed of the trailer at a point spaced rearwardly of the forwardend thereof.

The invention also contemplates the incorporation of means affordingvertical displacement of the coupling element relative to the trailerbed, both when the bed is supported by the rear wheels and by theforward support member, thereby to permit vertical positioning of thecoupling element relative to a mating coupling component on a towingvehicle, and when the hitch bar is supported at its forward end, as byconnection of the coupling element to a towing vehicle, thereby toeffect tilting of the trailer bed. In the preferred embodiment, thehitch bar is angularly displaceable relative to the bed to verticallyposition the coupling element relative to the bed by a bell crank leverwhich is pivotally mounted on the hitch bar and is pivotally connectedto one end of a link which, at its other end, is pivotally connected tothe forward end of the frame.

Such tiltability of the trailer bed advantageously enables elevation ofits forward end to facilitate positioning of the parking wheel in aretracted position. With the parking wheel thus retracted, the bed isthereafter tiltable to a forwardly and downwardly inclined trailingposition. In addition, when desired to launch or recover a boat, the bedis tiltable to a rearwardly and downwardly inclined disposition. Thisfeature is of particular importance when recovering boats on a ramphaving insufiicient incline to permit initial entry of the rear end ofthe trailer under a boat, while retaining the trailer in coupledrelation to the towing vehicle. In some circumstances, this feature alsoaids in facilitating boat launching from the trailer. In addition, theconstruction of the trailer bed includes a frame member which rests onthe hitch bar for transmission of the load thereto when the bed is inits trailing condition.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference tothe following description and the accompanying drawings of oneembodiment.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a trailer embodyingvarious of the features of the invention; showing in full lines, thetrailer in parked, uncoupled relation to a towing vehicle and, in dottedlines, the disposition of the coupling arrangement during engagementthereof;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIGURE 1;showing, in full lines, connection of the trailer to the towing vehiclewith the parking wheel elevated in relation to the supporting surfaceand showing, in dotted lines, connection of the trailer to the towingvehicle with the bed lowered for travel and with the parking wheel in aretracted position; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIGURE 1;showing the trailer coupled to the towing vehicle with the bed in itsfully tilted position facilitating loading and unloading of a boatthereon, which boat is shown in dotted outline in its loaded position.

The boat trailer 11 shown in the drawings embodies a couplingarrangement 13 including a tow or hitch bar 15, which arrangement can beused with a wide range of trailers. The boat trailer 11 includes a bedor frame 17 which comprises a pair of longitudinally extending,horizontally spaced frame members 21, which may converge at theirforward ends, and a bridging member 23 which connects the frame membersadjacent their forward ends. When'the trailer is in its trailingdisposition, the bridging member engages the hitch bar 15 for support ofthe bed 17 by the hitch bar 15. The trailer bed 17 is pivotallysupported, rearwardly of its center of gravity, by a pair of wheels 19which are mounted on aligned axes.

The trailer bed is retainable in a generally horizontal parkingcondition, when uncoupled from a towing vehicle 26, by a third,forwardly located supporting member or strut 24 which, in the disclosedconstruction, carries a caster type, parking wheel 25. The use of acaster type parking wheel facilitates localized movement of the trailer,especially shifting of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle 26, toeffect coupling thereof. Of course, supporting members without a castertype wheel can also be employed.

The strut 24 is carried on a horizontal pivot and is selectivelypositionable in either of a downwardly projecting, load-carryingposition and a relatively elevated, retracted position affordingdisposition of the trailer bed 17 in a forwardly and downwardly inclinedtrailing disposition when the trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle26. In the disclosed construction, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, theretracted position is an upwardly projecting position. Various means canbe provided for releasably retaining the strut 24 in either of itsdownwardly projecting or retracted positions.

Also included on the boat trailer 11 are winch means 27 (see FIGURE 3)of conventional construction for hauling a boat onto the bed 17.

The coupling arrangement 13 includes conventional components, such as acoupling element or tongue 29 carried by the hitch bar 15 at its forwardend and a coupling component or ball 31 carried by the towing vehicle26. As the height of the ball 31 is less than the height of the bed 17above the rear wheels 19, the forward end of the trailer bed 17 isdisposed, when the trailer is parked, above the level of the ball 31 onthe towing vehicle 26.

The hitch bar 15 is mounted on the trailer 11 by means pivotallyconnecting one end of the hitch bar to the frame between the wheels andthe strut so as to afford vertical displacement of the tongue 29relative to the adjacent or forward end of the trailer bed 17. Moreparticularly, the hitch bar 15 constitutes an elongated structuralmember or beam and, at its rearward end, is

pivotally connected by means of a generally horizontal pivot 35), to thetrailer bed 17 at a point located intermediate the frame members 21 andforwardly of the rear wheels 19.

Various means or arrangements connected to the hitch bar and to theframe can be used to effect vertical or angular displacement of thetongue 29 relative to the adjacent end of'the bed 17. In the preferredconstruction, the hitch bar is pivotable relative to the bed byconnecting means in the form of a bell crank lever 35 and a link 37.More specifically, the lever 35 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 39fixed to the hitch bar 15 and includes a short leg 41 pivotallyconnected, at its outer end, to one end of the link 37, and a relativelylong arm or leg 43 providing a substantial mechanical advantage over anymoment-producing-force applied to the short leg 41 by the link 37. Inturn, the link 37 is pivotally connected at its other end to theadjacent end of the trailer bed 17.

Releasable retention of the hitch bar 15 relative to the trailer bed 17is provided by a conventional detent mecha nism 45 including a series ofdetents or notches 47 along the upper arcuate periphery of the bracket39 and a dog or key (not shown) which is carried by the long arm 43 ofthe lever 35 and is releasably engageable in the notches 47 by operationof a trigger 49 also carried on the long arm 43 of the lever 35.

In operation, when it is desired to couple the trailer 11 to the towingvehicle 26, the lever 35 is initially operated to raise the tongue 29until it is disposed above the height of the ball 31 on the towingvehicle 26. The lever 35 is then rocked in a clockwise direction, asseen in the drawings, to lower the tongue 29 onto the ball 31. It isnoted that thus far, movement of the lever 35 has resulted only inswinging the hitch bar 15 and that tilting of the trailer bed 17 isunnecessary to effect initial attachment of the trailer 11 to a towingvehicle 26.

With the tongue 29 coupled to the ball 31, the lever 35 can now berocked clockwise, thereby elevating the adjacent end of the trailer bed17relative to the hitch bar 15 and lifting the strut 24 from thesupporting surface, thereby permitting displacement thereof to itsretracted position. The lever 35 is then shifted counterclockwise toeffect pivoting of the trailer bed 17 in a clockwise direction until thetrailer bed is disposed in forwardly and downwardly inclined trailingrelation to the towing vehicle. In this trailing position, the bridgingmember 23 rests on the hitch bar 15, thereby removing any gravity loadfrom the detent mechanism 45.

When it is desired to tilt the bed 17 to a downwardly and rearwardlyinclined disposition to aid in launching or recovery of a boat 51, thelever is rocked clockwise to its forwardmost position, thereby pivotingthe trailer bed 17 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG- URE 3.

When it is desired to uncouple the trailer from the towing vehicle 26,the lever 35 is rocked clockwise, thereby elevating the forward end ofthe trailer bed 17 to permit repositioning of the strut 24 in itsdownwardly projecting position. The lever 35 is then rockedcounterclockwise, lowering the adjacent end of the trailer bed 17 untilthe strut 24 engages the supporting surface. Continued counterclockwisemovement of the lever 35 elevates the tongue 29 from the ball 31 todisconnect the trailer from the towing vehicle.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the connecting means is operable,when the trailer frame or bed 17 is supported on the ground solely bythe wheels 19 and the strut 24, to shift the hitch bar 15 independentlyof the a predetermined level above the ground and without bodilydisplacement of the hitch bar, to elevate the adjacent end of the bed 17to thereby disengage thestrut 24 from the ground to afford retraction ofthe strut and to lower the adjacent end of the bed onto the hitch bar 15when the strut 24-is retracted. The connecting means is thereforeoperable, while maintaining connection of the hitch bar to a coupling ona tractor, and without displacement of the tractor along the ground, forraising and lowering the strut relative to a bed supporting groundengagement wherein the bed is solely supported by the strut and thewheels.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle including a frame, means for supporting said frame inspaced relation to a supporting surface including wheel means, meansmounting said wheel means on said frame to afford pivotal movement ofsaid frame relative to said wheel means, a strut, and means mountingsaid strut at one end of said frame in spaced relation to said wheelmeans for frame supporting engagement with the supporting surface, ahitch bar including at one end thereof a coupling element adapted forconnection to a complementary coupling component on a towing vehicle,means mounting the other end of said hitch bar on said frame forvertical movement of said one end of said hitch bar relative to said oneend of said frame when said frame is supported on said wheel means andon said strut, said means mounting said other end of said hitch barcomprising a pivot affording movement of said hitch bar through avertical arc and means on said frame for varying vertical displacementbetween said one end of said hitch bar and said one end of said framecomprising a linkage including a link pivoted at one end to said one endof said frame, and a lever pivotally mounted on said hitch bar, saidlever including one short leg pivotally connected to the other end ofsaid link and one free long leg affording substantial mechanicaladvantage over the action of said link on said short leg, and areleasable de-tent mechanism mounted on said hitch bar and on said leverfor releasably preventing shifting of said lever, whereby said verticaldisplacement means is operable to position said coupling element forconnection to the coupling component without effecting the dispositionof said frame on said wheel means and said strut, and whereby when saidcoupling element is connected to the coupling component, said verticaldisplacement means is operable to elevate said one end of said framerelative to said coupling element and to the supporting surface so as torelieve the supporting engagement of said strut with the supportingsurface.

2. An improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means mountingsaid hitch bar is spaced substantially from said one end of said frame,and said frame includes means engageable with said hitch bar forpreventing relative angular movement in one direction past apredetermined point of said hitch bar relative to said frame, whereby toeffect load transmission between said rame and said hitch bar when saidhitch bar is engaged by said engageable means.

3. A vehicle comprising a frame, a pair of wheels, means supporting saidwheels on said frame to afford pivotal movement of said frame relativeto said wheels, a strut having at one end thereof a caster wheel, meansmounting the other end of said strut adjacent to one end of said framein spaced relation from said wheels, a hitch bar, means pivotallyconnecting one end of said hitch bar to the frame between said wheelsupporting means and said strut mounting means, and means connectedbetween said hitch bar and said one end of said frame for angularlydisplacing said hitch bar and said frame relative to each other whereby,when said frame is supported by said wheels and said strut, said hitchbar can be vertically positioned for coupling and,

when said hitch bar is coupled to a tractor, said frame and said strutcan be raised relative to said hitch bar.

4. A vehicle adapted to be pulled by a tractor, said vehicle comprisinga frame, a pair of wheels, means supporting said wheels on said frame toafford pivotal movement of said frame relative to said wheels, a struthaving at one end thereof a caster wheel, means mounting the other endof said strut on said frame in spaced relation from said wheels formovement between a first retracted position and a second positionextending downwardly from said frame, a hitch bar, means pivotallyconnecting one end of said hitch bar to said frame between said wheelsupporting means and said strut mounting means, and means connectedbetween said hitch bar and said frame for angularly displacing saidln'tch bar and said frame relative to each other whereby, when g saidframe is supported by said wheels and said strut, said hitch bar can bevertically positioned for coupling and, when said hitch bar is coupledto a tractor, said frame and said strut can be raised relative to saidhitch bar to facilitate movement of said strut between said FOREIGNPATENTS 3/ 1957 Great Britain. 4/1959 France.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

1. A VEHICLE INCLUDING A FRAME, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME INSPACED RELATION TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE INCLUDING WHEEL MEANS, MEANSMOUNTING SAID WHEEL MEANS ON SAID FRAME TO AFFORD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OFSAID FRAME RELATIVE TO SAID WHEEL MEANS, A STRUT, AND MEANS MOUNTINGSAID STRUT AT ONE END OF SAID FRAME IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID WHEELMEANS FOR FRAME SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORTING SURFACE, AHITCH BAR INCLUDING AT ONE END THEREOF A COUPLING ELEMENT ADAPTED FORCONNECTION TO A COMPLEMENTARY COUPLING COMPONENT ON A TOWING VEHICLE,MEANS MOUNTING THE OTHER END OF SAID HITCH BAR ON SAID FRAME FORVERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE END OF SAID HITCH BAR RELATIVE TO SAID ONEEND OF SAID FRAME WHEN SAID FRAME IS SUPPORTED ON SAID WHEEL MEANS ANDON SAID STRUT, SAID MEANS MOUNTING SAID OTHER END OF SAID HITCH BARCOMPRISING A PIVOT AFFORDING MOVEMENT OF SAID HITCH BAR THROUGH AVERTICAL ARC AND MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR VARYING DISPLACEMENT BETWEENSAID ONE END OF SAID HITCH BAR AND SAID ONE END OF SAID FRAME COMPRISINGA LINKAGE INCLUDING A LINK PIVOTED AT ONE END TO SAID ONE END OF SAIDFRAME, AND A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HITCH BAR, SAID LEVERINCLUDING ONE SHORT LEG PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAIDLINK AND ONE FREE LONG LEG AFFORDING SUBSTANTIAL MECHANICAL ADVANTAGEOVER THE ACTION OF SAID LINK ON SAID SHORT LEG, AND A RELEASABLEK DETENTMECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID HITCH BAR AND ON SAID LEVER FOR RELEASABLYPREVENTING SHIFTING OF SAID LEVER, WHEREBY SAID VERTICAL DISPLACEMENTMEANS IS OPERABLE TO POSITION SAID COUPLING ELEMENT FOR CONNECTION TOTHE COUPLING COMPONENT WITHOUT EFFECTING THE DISPOSITION OF SAID FRAMEON SAID WHEEL MEANS AND SAID STRUT, AND WHEREBY WHEN SAID COUPLINGELEMENT IS CONNECTED TO THE COUPLING COMPONENT, SAID VERTICALDISPLACEMENT MEANS IS OPERABLE TO ELEVATE SAID ONE END OF SAID FRAMERELATIVE TO SAID COUPLING ELEMENT AND TO THE SUPPORTING SURFACE SO AS TORELIEVE THE SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID STRUT WITH THE SUPPORTINGSURFACE.